Merging payloads in geofence crowded venues

ABSTRACT

A subset of geofences is selected from a set of geofences operating in an area, each geofence in the subset satisfying a primary consideration relative to at least one other geofence in the subset. In response to a first payload of a first geofence and a second payload of a second geofence satisfying a secondary consideration, a combined geofence definition is formed by combining a first definition of the first geofence with a second definition of the second geofence. At a data processing system distinct from a mobile device traveling in the area, the first payload is combined with the second payload to form a combined payload. The combined geofence definition and the combined payload are transmitted to the mobile device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a method, system, geofenceand computer program product for managing targeted commercial datawithin a geofence. More particularly, the present invention relates to amethod, system, and computer program product for merging payloads ingeofence-crowded venues.

BACKGROUND

A wireless data processing system, wireless data communication device,or wireless computing platform is collectively and interchangeablyreferred to herein as a “mobile device”. For example, many mobiledevices not only allow the users to make voice calls, but also exchangemessages and other data, access remote data processing systems,determine a user's location or activity, communicate with other mobiledevices or data processing systems, or perform web-based interactionsand other transactions.

Wearable devices are a category of mobile devices. A wearable device isessentially a mobile device, but has a form-factor that is suitable forwearing the device on a user's person.

A geofence is a perimeter of a closed area defined by one or morepoints, each point having a geographical coordinate in athree-dimensional (3D) geographical space. A geofence is alsointerchangeably referred to herein as simply a “fence”.

As an example, the coordinates of a point on the geofence can be thelatitude and longitude of the point. As another example, the coordinatesof the point on the geofence can be defined relative to another point,using another system of measurements, or both.

For example, a geofence can be a circular area defined by a center pointand a radius distance. As another example, a geofence can be arectangular area defined by four corner points. Generally, a geofencecan take the form of a regular or irregular polygon formed usingstraight lines, a circle, an ellipse, an irregular free-form shapeformed using one or more curved lines, or some combination thereof.

Geofencing is extensively used in mobile communications. For example,many operators of Wi-Fi networks allow connection to their Wi-Fi accesspoint only when a mobile device is within a geofence defined around theaccess point. As another example, retailers often define geofencesaround their stores to detect movement of patrons in and around theirstores.

Operators also use Geofencing to perform targeted delivery or exchangeof data—a payload—to or with mobile devices that are present withintheir geofence. For example, a retailer can send a payload, e.g., dataof a coupon or advertisement, to a user on the user's mobile device,when the user is in or near the retailer's geofenced store.

A venue can have several geofences existing therein simultaneously. Forexample, a venue such as a shopping mall can have hundreds of stores,and consequently dozens if not hundreds of geofences defined andoperating therein. A user's device can be bombarded with payload data insuch geofence-crowded environments.

Furthermore, a user's device can presently track only a limited numberof geofences at any given time. For example, an Android™ device cantrack up to one hundred geofences at a time and an iOS™ device can trackup to twenty geofences at a time (iOS is a trademark of Cisco Systems,Inc. licensed to Apple Inc. in the United States and in other countries;Android is a trademark of Google Inc., in the United States and in othercountries). Therefore, geofences in excess of a device's trackingcapability may not be registered or detected by the device, theirpayload may be dropped or not received by the device, or both.

SUMMARY

The illustrative embodiments provide a method, system, and computerprogram product. An embodiment includes a method that selects, from aset of geofences operating in an area, a subset of geofences, eachgeofence in the subset satisfying a primary consideration relative to atleast one other geofence in the subset. The embodiment forms a combinedgeofence definition, responsive to a first payload of a first geofenceand a second payload of a second geofence satisfying a secondaryconsideration, by combining a first definition of the first geofencewith a second definition of the second geofence. The embodimentcombines, using a processor and a memory at a data processing system,the data processing system being distinct from a mobile device travelingin the area, and responsive to the forming the combined geofencedefinition, the first payload with the second payload to form a combinedpayload. The embodiment transmits, to the mobile device the combinedgeofence definition and the combined payload.

An embodiment includes a computer usable program product. The computerusable program product includes one or more computer-readable storagedevices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one ormore storage devices.

An embodiment includes a computer system. The computer system includesone or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, and oneor more computer-readable storage devices, and program instructionsstored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for executionby at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of theone or more memories.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well asa preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, willbest be understood by reference to the following detailed description ofthe illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a network of data processing systemsin which illustrative embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a data processing system in whichillustrative embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of an example manner of merging payloadsin geofence-crowded venues in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment;

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of a configuration for merging payloadsin geofence-crowded venues in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment; and

FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of an example process for merging payloads ingeofence-crowded venues in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A mobile device can be located in a geographical area so as to becapable of receiving the information and payload of several geofences.The illustrative embodiments recognize that a significant challengeexists in areas that are crowded with geofences to determine whichgeofence information and the corresponding payload to send to a mobiledevice.

Presently, one method selects some geofences in preference to othergeofences according to some preference rules. Such a method drops thepayload of the unselected geofence, and the information of the geofence,e.g., the fence's definition, and the geofence's payload are nottransmitted to the device.

Another presently method attempts to frequently determine the device'slocation by making computationally and power-wise expensive locationqueries to the device in order to determine the changes in the preciselocation of the device. The precise location is then used to againselect only those few geofences that are closest to the device and canbe handled within the limitations of the device. The other geofencesthat are still relevant but are not the closes are then dropped, and thedevice does not receive their payload data.

Thus, the illustrative embodiments recognize that when in ageofence-crowded environment, the payloads of at least some geofencesare not available at a mobile device, which is otherwise locatedsuitably relative to such geofences to receive such payloads. Theillustrative embodiments used to describe the invention generallyaddress and solve the above-described problems and other problemsrelated to ensuring the delivery of a payload of a geofence to asuitably situated mobile device even if the device cannot detect thegeofence due to crowding and device limitations.

An embodiment can be implemented as a software application. Theapplication implementing an embodiment can be configured as amodification of an existing geofence payload delivery system, as aseparate application that operates in conjunction with an existinggeofence payload delivery system, a standalone application, or somecombination thereof.

In some cases, the application implementing an embodiment may beimplemented on a mobile device that traverses an area where a geofenceis operating. For example, implementing an embodiment in a mobile devicemay be desirable when the mobile device can detect and receiveinformation and payload of a number of geofences that is larger than thenumber of geofences operating on an area, but where it is desirable toreduce the number of geofences being handled by the device withoutlosing the payload data for any of the detected geofences.

An embodiment detects that a device is operating in an area where a setof geofences are operating. The embodiment receives the definitions of asubset of geofences for which the device is suitably located. In otherwords, each geofence in the subset is a geofence which regards thedevice as being present within that geofence and is operating to delivera payload to the device.

The embodiment uses a primary consideration to combine two or moregeofences that are in the subset. As a non-limiting example, the primaryconsideration can be a distance between the geofences. In oneembodiment, the distance between two geofences is the shortest distancebetween any point on one geofence and any point on the other geofence.

In another embodiment, the distance between two geofences is a distancebetween a point on or inside one geofence and another point on or insidethe other geofence. For example, the distance may be between a locationof a retail store situated relative to one geofence and a location ofanother retail store situated relative to the other geofence.

An embodiment determines the distance between two geofences. As aprimary consideration for merging the two geofences, the embodimentdetermines whether the distance is less than a threshold distance. Ifthe distance is less than the threshold distance, then the primaryconsideration for the merger is satisfied and the two geofences can bemerged to form a single merged geofence. The actual merger is subject toone or more secondary considerations as well, which are describedherein.

Any number of geofences can be merged to form a combined geofence. Thecombined geofence includes each of the individual geofences in theirentirety. The combined geofence may, but need not necessarily includeadditional area, where the additional area is not a part of any of theindividual geofences that have been merged.

When an embodiment forms a combined geofence, the embodiment alsodefines the combined geofence with a new definition that encompasses thedefinitions of each merged individual geofence. For example, some pointson the combined geofence may be common between the combined geofence andone individual geofence, some other points on the combined geofence maybe common between the combined geofence and a different individualgeofence, and some points on the combined geofence may not be commonbetween the combined geofence any individual geofence that is mergedtherein. Thus, the merging operation reduces the number of geofencesthat are defined for a mobile device.

Furthermore, once an embodiment determines that the primaryconsideration is satisfied for a merger, the embodiment furtherdetermines whether one or more secondary considerations are alsosatisfied for combining the payloads of the merged geofences. In otherwords, the embodiment determines whether the payloads of two individualgeofences can be presented together to the device when the device iswithin the combined geofence.

If the individual geofences that satisfy the primary considerationinclude payloads that do not satisfy one or more secondaryconsideration, then the individual geofences cannot be merged into acombined geofence. Stated another way, for two individual geofences tobe merged into a combined geofence, the two individual geofences mustsatisfy the primary consideration as well as all applicable secondaryconsiderations.

As one non-limiting example, a secondary consideration may becombinability of a type of payload. For example, some payloads may bebrand advertising, others may be coupons, still others may be up-sell orcross-sell offers, some may be informational, some others might bedisclosures or warnings, and some may be surveys. Of course many othertypes of payloads can exist and are contemplated within the scope of theillustrative embodiments.

Accordingly, the example secondary consideration might provide that sometypes of payloads, such as disclaimers or warnings, may not be combinedwith any other types of payloads. Similarly, the example type-basedsecondary consideration may provide that some types of payloads may notbe combined with other specific types of payloads, during certain daysor times, for geofences operating at certain locations, when certainevents are existing, and the like.

As another non-limiting example, a secondary consideration may bewhether the individual geofences are along a common trajectory that ispredicted for the mobile device. For example, the device may havepreviously visited the area and traversed through the area in a patternof traversal, which can be established from the historical movement dataof the device.

Accordingly, a trajectory of the device can be predicted to be the sameor similar to the previous pattern through the area. According to theexample secondary consideration, if two individual geofences thatsatisfy the primary consideration are both on the projected trajectory,then their payloads can be combined, otherwise not.

As another non-limiting example, a secondary consideration may bewhether the individual geofences are from retailers or operators wherethe user of the mobile device has previously paused or stopped. Again,the pauses in previous traversals can be established from the historicalmovement data of the device.

Accordingly, the example secondary consideration may specify that if twoindividual geofences that satisfy the primary consideration are bothrelated to operators where the user has paused before, then theirpayloads can be combined, otherwise not.

Similarly, another example secondary consideration may specify that onlypayloads that do not expire within a threshold amount of time fromsending to the device may be combined.

Another example secondary consideration may provide that if an area ofan individual geofence exceeds a threshold area, then the payload ofthat area should not be combined with payloads of other areas. Anotherexample secondary consideration may provide that if the payloads of twoindividual geofences are combinable if the sizes of their individualgeofences are similar within a tolerance value.

Another example secondary consideration may provide that if a shape ofan individual geofence is irregular, the payload of that individualgeofence should not be combined with the payload of another individualgeofence. Conversely, another example secondary consideration mayprovide that if a shape of an individual geofence is a regular geometricpolygon, the payload of that individual geofence should be combined withthe payload of another individual geofence whose shape is also a regulargeometric polygon of the same or a different type.

These examples of primary considerations and secondary considerationsare not intended to be limiting. From this disclosure, those of ordinaryskill in the art will be able to conceive many other primaryconsiderations and secondary considerations and the same arecontemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments.

Even when two individual geofences satisfy a primary consideration andsatisfy all applicable secondary considerations, there may be exclusionsor prohibitions. For example, an operator of an individual geofence canconfigure an exclusion of a particular payload, periods, or otherattributes of the individual geofence to prevent combining the payloadof that individual geofence with the payload of another individualgeofence. Similarly, an embodiment can be configured to exclude certainpayloads or individual geofences from combining, or prohibit certaincombinations.

In some cases, a user can configure a mobile device with the user'spreferences or prohibitions combinations with certain characteristics.When a device is configured with a preference or a prohibition, thedevice can provide the information about the preference or prohibitionto an embodiment. The embodiment can then either create a combination ofpayloads according to a preference, or prevent a combination of payloadsfrom forming according to a prohibition.

An embodiment is further optionally configured to analyze social data todetermine whether to combine certain payloads. For example, given theavailability of suitable information, the embodiment can identify theuser or subscriber from the identifier of a mobile device. Once theidentity of the user is known, the embodiment extracts information froma social media platform about a social network of the user. Theembodiment then cross-references the identities of the individuals thatare present in the social network of the user to determine whether anyof those individuals have used a payload. For example, the embodimentdetermines whether a friend of the user has actually used a coupon at acheckout location of a retailer operator of a geofence.

When one or more individuals in the user's social network have used apayload, the embodiment determines that a likelihood exists that theuser will want the same or similar payload. Thus, the social results ofpast payloads can be another example secondary consideration to beprocessed in a manner described herein.

Some secondary considerations may operate not for evaluating acombinability of payloads, or at least not for only that purpose, but to(also) evaluate how the combinable payloads should be combined. Forexample, one secondary consideration may specify a rule according towhich relative priorities of the combinable payloads is computed. Aresult of such a secondary consideration would be a determination as towhich payload is received or presented first at the device, and whichpayload is received or presented next. Similarly, a secondaryconsideration can be configured to determine a length of time for whichone payload is presented relative to a length of time for which anotherpayload in the combined payload is presented on the device.

Once one or more primary considerations are satisfied by two or moreindividual geofences, all applicable secondary considerations aresatisfied by the two or more individual geofences, all prohibitions orpreferences are satisfied, any optional social media related secondaryconsiderations are computed, and the individual payloads are prioritizedor otherwise arranged, an embodiment combines the two or more individualgeofences to form the combined geofence. The embodiment also combinesthe payloads of the individual geofences that are merged to form acombined payload. The embodiment outputs a definition of the combinedgeofence and the combined payload to a device that is located within thecombined geofence. An application executing in the device uses thecombined geofence definition to present the combined payload on thedevice.

The manner of merging payloads in geofence-crowded venues describedherein is unavailable in the presently available methods. A method of anembodiment described herein, when implemented to execute on a device ordata processing system, comprises substantial advancement of thefunctionality of that device or data processing system in preventingdropped or lost payloads of individual geofences when the numerosity ofthe individual geofences in a geofence-crowded environment cannot beadequately handled by a mobile device.

The illustrative embodiments are described with respect to certain typesof geofences, geofence definitions, payloads, primary considerations,secondary considerations, social considerations, preferences,prohibitions, logic, analyses, devices, data processing systems,environments, components, and applications only as examples. Anyspecific manifestations of these and other similar artifacts are notintended to be limiting to the invention. Any suitable manifestation ofthese and other similar artifacts can be selected within the scope ofthe illustrative embodiments.

Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments may be implemented withrespect to any type of data, data source, or access to a data sourceover a data network. Any type of data storage device may provide thedata to an embodiment of the invention, either locally at a dataprocessing system or over a data network, within the scope of theinvention. Where an embodiment is described using a mobile device, anytype of data storage device suitable for use with the mobile device mayprovide the data to such embodiment, either locally at the mobile deviceor over a data network, within the scope of the illustrativeembodiments.

The illustrative embodiments are described using specific code, designs,architectures, protocols, layouts, schematics, and tools only asexamples and are not limiting to the illustrative embodiments.Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments are described in someinstances using particular software, tools, and data processingenvironments only as an example for the clarity of the description. Theillustrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with othercomparable or similarly purposed structures, systems, applications, orarchitectures. For example, other comparable mobile devices, structures,systems, applications, or architectures therefor, may be used inconjunction with such embodiment of the invention within the scope ofthe invention. An illustrative embodiment may be implemented inhardware, software, or a combination thereof.

The examples in this disclosure are used only for the clarity of thedescription and are not limiting to the illustrative embodiments.Additional data, operations, actions, tasks, activities, andmanipulations will be conceivable from this disclosure and the same arecontemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments.

Any advantages listed herein are only examples and are not intended tobe limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Additional or differentadvantages may be realized by specific illustrative embodiments.Furthermore, a particular illustrative embodiment may have some, all, ornone of the advantages listed above.

With reference to the figures and in particular with reference to FIGS.1 and 2, these figures are example diagrams of data processingenvironments in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. FIGS.1 and 2 are only examples and are not intended to assert or imply anylimitation with regard to the environments in which differentembodiments may be implemented. A particular implementation may makemany modifications to the depicted environments based on the followingdescription.

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a network of data processing systemsin which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Data processingenvironment 100 is a network of computers in which the illustrativeembodiments may be implemented. Data processing environment 100 includesnetwork 102. Network 102 is the medium used to provide communicationslinks between various devices and computers connected together withindata processing environment 100. Network 102 may include connections,such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables.

Clients or servers are only example roles of certain data processingsystems connected to network 102 and are not intended to exclude otherconfigurations or roles for these data processing systems. Server 104and server 106 couple to network 102 along with storage unit 108.Software applications may execute on any computer in data processingenvironment 100. Clients 110, 112, and 114 are also coupled to network102. A data processing system, such as server 104 or 106, or client 110,112, or 114 may contain data and may have software applications orsoftware tools executing thereon.

Only as an example, and without implying any limitation to sucharchitecture, FIG. 1 depicts certain components that are usable in anexample implementation of an embodiment. For example, servers 104 and106, and clients 110, 112, 114, are depicted as servers and clients onlyas example and not to imply a limitation to a client-serverarchitecture. As another example, an embodiment can be distributedacross several data processing systems and a data network as shown,whereas another embodiment can be implemented on a single dataprocessing system within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. Dataprocessing systems 104, 106, 110, 112, and 114 also represent examplenodes in a cluster, partitions, and other configurations suitable forimplementing an embodiment.

Device 132 is an example of a device described herein. For example,device 132 can take the form of a smartphone, a tablet computer, alaptop computer, client 110 in a stationary or a portable form, awearable computing device, or any other suitable device. Any softwareapplication described as executing in another data processing system inFIG. 1 can be configured to execute in device 132 in a similar manner.Any data or information stored or produced in another data processingsystem in FIG. 1 can be configured to be stored or produced in device132 in a similar manner.

Application 105 implements an embodiment described herein. Server 106 isan example system that operates an individual geofence. Server 106provides individual geofence definition and the corresponding payloaddata to application 105 for merging in a manner described herein. Device132 is a device that travels in an area where one or more geofences areoperating. Application 105 provides the definition of a combinedgeofence and combined payload data to presentation app 134 in device 132in a manner described herein.

Servers 104 and 106, storage unit 108, and clients 110, 112, and 114 maycouple to network 102 using wired connections, wireless communicationprotocols, or other suitable data connectivity. Clients 110, 112, and114 may be, for example, personal computers or network computers.

In the depicted example, server 104 may provide data, such as bootfiles, operating system images, and applications to clients 110, 112,and 114. Clients 110, 112, and 114 may be clients to server 104 in thisexample. Clients 110, 112, 114, or some combination thereof, may includetheir own data, boot files, operating system images, and applications.Data processing environment 100 may include additional servers, clients,and other devices that are not shown.

In the depicted example, data processing environment 100 may be theInternet. Network 102 may represent a collection of networks andgateways that use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) and other protocols to communicate with one another. At theheart of the Internet is a backbone of data communication links betweenmajor nodes or host computers, including thousands of commercial,governmental, educational, and other computer systems that route dataand messages. Of course, data processing environment 100 also may beimplemented as a number of different types of networks, such as forexample, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network(WAN). FIG. 1 is intended as an example, and not as an architecturallimitation for the different illustrative embodiments.

Among other uses, data processing environment 100 may be used forimplementing a client-server environment in which the illustrativeembodiments may be implemented. A client-server environment enablessoftware applications and data to be distributed across a network suchthat an application functions by using the interactivity between aclient data processing system and a server data processing system. Dataprocessing environment 100 may also employ a service orientedarchitecture where interoperable software components distributed acrossa network may be packaged together as coherent business applications.

With reference to FIG. 2, this figure depicts a block diagram of a dataprocessing system in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented.Data processing system 200 is an example of a computer, such as servers104 and 106, or clients 110, 112, and 114 in FIG. 1, or another type ofdevice in which computer usable program code or instructionsimplementing the processes may be located for the illustrativeembodiments.

Data processing system 200 is also representative of a data processingsystem or a configuration therein, such as data processing system 132 inFIG. 1 in which computer usable program code or instructionsimplementing the processes of the illustrative embodiments may belocated. Data processing system 200 is described as a computer only asan example, without being limited thereto. Implementations in the formof other devices, such as device 132 in FIG. 1, may modify dataprocessing system 200, such as by adding a touch interface, and eveneliminate certain depicted components from data processing system 200without departing from the general description of the operations andfunctions of data processing system 200 described herein.

In the depicted example, data processing system 200 employs a hubarchitecture including North Bridge and memory controller hub (NB/MCH)202 and South Bridge and input/output (I/O) controller hub (SB/ICH) 204.Processing unit 206, main memory 208, and graphics processor 210 arecoupled to North Bridge and memory controller hub (NB/MCH) 202.Processing unit 206 may contain one or more processors and may beimplemented using one or more heterogeneous processor systems.Processing unit 206 may be a multi-core processor. Graphics processor210 may be coupled to NB/MCH 202 through an accelerated graphics port(AGP) in certain implementations.

In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter 212 is coupledto South Bridge and I/O controller hub (SB/ICH) 204. Audio adapter 216,keyboard and mouse adapter 220, modem 222, read only memory (ROM) 224,universal serial bus (USB) and other ports 232, and PCI/PCIe devices 234are coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub 204 through bus 238.Hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD) 226 and CD-ROM 230 arecoupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub 204 through bus 240.PCI/PCIe devices 234 may include, for example, Ethernet adapters, add-incards, and PC cards for notebook computers. PCI uses a card buscontroller, while PCIe does not. ROM 224 may be, for example, a flashbinary input/output system (BIOS). Hard disk drive 226 and CD-ROM 230may use, for example, an integrated drive electronics (IDE), serialadvanced technology attachment (SATA) interface, or variants such asexternal-SATA (eSATA) and micro-SATA (mSATA). A super I/O (SIO) device236 may be coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub (SB/ICH) 204through bus 238.

Memories, such as main memory 208, ROM 224, or flash memory (not shown),are some examples of computer usable storage devices. Hard disk drive orsolid state drive 226, CD-ROM 230, and other similarly usable devicesare some examples of computer usable storage devices including acomputer usable storage medium.

An operating system runs on processing unit 206. The operating systemcoordinates and provides control of various components within dataprocessing system 200 in FIG. 2. The operating system may be acommercially available operating system such as AIX® (AIX is a trademarkof International Business Machines Corporation in the United States andother countries), Microsoft® Windows® (Microsoft and Windows aretrademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and othercountries), Linux® (Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds in the UnitedStates and other countries), iOS, or Android. An object orientedprogramming system, such as the Java™ programming system, may run inconjunction with the operating system and provide calls to the operatingsystem from Java™ programs or applications executing on data processingsystem 200 (Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarksor registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates).

Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented programmingsystem, and applications or programs, such as application 105 in FIG. 1,are located on storage devices, such as in the form of code 226A on harddisk drive 226, and may be loaded into at least one of one or morememories, such as main memory 208, for execution by processing unit 206.The processes of the illustrative embodiments may be performed byprocessing unit 206 using computer implemented instructions, which maybe located in a memory, such as, for example, main memory 208, read onlymemory 224, or in one or more peripheral devices.

Furthermore, in one case, code 226A may be downloaded over network 201Afrom remote system 201B, where similar code 201C is stored on a storagedevice 201D. In another case, code 226A may be downloaded over network201A to remote system 201B, where downloaded code 201C is stored on astorage device 201D.

The hardware in FIGS. 1-2 may vary depending on the implementation.Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash memory,equivalent non-volatile memory, or optical disk drives and the like, maybe used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in FIGS.1-2. In addition, the processes of the illustrative embodiments may beapplied to a multiprocessor data processing system.

In some illustrative examples, data processing system 200 may be apersonal digital assistant (PDA), which is generally configured withflash memory to provide non-volatile memory for storing operating systemfiles and/or user-generated data. A bus system may comprise one or morebuses, such as a system bus, an I/O bus, and a PCI bus. Of course, thebus system may be implemented using any type of communications fabric orarchitecture that provides for a transfer of data between differentcomponents or devices attached to the fabric or architecture.

A communications unit may include one or more devices used to transmitand receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter. A memory may be,for example, main memory 208 or a cache, such as the cache found inNorth Bridge and memory controller hub 202. A processing unit mayinclude one or more processors or CPUs.

The depicted examples in FIGS. 1-2 and above-described examples are notmeant to imply architectural limitations. For example, data processingsystem 200 also may be a tablet computer, laptop computer, or telephonedevice in addition to taking the form of a mobile or wearable device.

Where a computer or data processing system is described as a virtualmachine, a virtual device, or a virtual component, the virtual machine,virtual device, or the virtual component operates in the manner of dataprocessing system 200 using virtualized manifestation of some or allcomponents depicted in data processing system 200. For example, in avirtual machine, virtual device, or virtual component, processing unit206 is manifested as a virtualized instance of all or some number ofhardware processing units 206 available in a host data processingsystem, main memory 208 is manifested as a virtualized instance of allor some portion of main memory 208 that may be available in the hostdata processing system, and disk 226 is manifested as a virtualizedinstance of all or some portion of disk 226 that may be available in thehost data processing system. The host data processing system in suchcases is represented by data processing system 200.

With reference to FIG. 3, this figure depicts a block diagram of anexample manner of merging payloads in geofence-crowded venues inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment. Geofence 302 and geofence304 are each an individual geofence. For example, geofence 302 may beoperated by server 106 in FIG. 1, and geofence 304 may be operated byanother system comparable to server 106.

Only as an example, geofence 302 is defined as a geometric circle andgeofence 304 is defined as a geometric rectangle, both of which areregular geometric shapes. Payload P1 is to be presented to devices thatare located within geofence 302, and payload P2 is to be presented todevices that are located inside geofence 304.

For a primary consideration described herein, an embodiment computes adistance between geofences 302 and 304. According to one embodiment, thedistance may be D1, which is shown as the shortest distance between anypoint on geofence 302 and any point on geofence 304. Alternatively,according to another embodiment, the distance may be D2, which is shownas a distance between a store location A in geofence 302 and a storelocation B in geofence 304.

The operation of an embodiment, such as an embodiment implemented inapplication 105 in FIG. 1, produces combined geofence 306. Combinedgeofence 306 merges geofence 302 and 304 as shown and presents combinedpayload 308 to devices that are located anywhere inside combinedgeofence 306 or on the boundary of combined geofence 306. Combinedpayload 308 includes payloads P1 and P2, assuming all primaryconsiderations and secondary considerations have been satisfied by thecombinations.

With reference to FIG. 4, this figure depicts a block diagram of aconfiguration for merging payloads in geofence-crowded venues inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment. Application 402 is anexample of application 105 in FIG. 1.

Input 404 is the geofence definition and payload data received fromseveral geofence operator systems, such as data 107 from system 106 inFIG. 1. Configuration 406 can be configured in a system providing input404, a system where application 402 is executing, a mobile device towhich application 402 sends combined geofence definition and combinedpayload, or using a combination thereof.

Component 408 detects the presence of a mobile device in an area where aset of individual geofences are operating. Component 410 analyzes aspecified primary consideration to select a subset of individualgeofences for merging in a manner described herein. For example,component 410 uses primary consideration 412 from configuration 406.

For the selected subset of individual geofences that can be mergedaccording to the primary consideration, component 414 analyzes one ormore secondary considerations to determine whether the payloads of thesubset of individual geofences can also be combined in a mannerdescribed herein. As an example, the one or more secondaryconsiderations can be secondary considerations 416 specified inconfiguration 406.

Component 418 further analyzes one or more preferences and/orprohibitions (generally referred to as restrictions) for thecombinability of the individual geofences, payloads, or both. As anexample, preference and/or prohibition 420 may be specified inconfiguration 406 for use with component 418.

Optionally, when a social consideration has to be processed, application402 receives social data 422 as input from a social media system. Usinginput 422, component 424 determines whether an individual geofence or apayload should be combined with another individual geofence or payload,respectively, when such a combination should be made, how thecombination should be prioritized or ordered, and the like, as describedherein. Component 424 may optionally use social consideration 426specified in configuration 406 for this purpose.

Using the results produced from component 410, 414, 418, and 424,component 428 produces a combined geofence definition and a combinedpayload to be delivered within the combined geofence. Data 430 of thecombined geofence definition and the combined payload is delivered fromapplication 402 to consumer application 432. Consumer application 432executes on a mobile device, e.g., device 132 of FIG. 1, which ispresent in the combined geofence, and uses data 430 in presentation 134in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 5, this figure depicts a flowchart of an exampleprocess for merging payloads in geofence-crowded venues in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment. Process 500 can be implemented inapplication 402 in FIG. 4.

The application receives a set of geofence definitions and theircorresponding payloads (block 502). The set of geofences are operatingin an area where geofence-crowding is occurring and where a device issituated so as to be able to present the payloads of at least some ofthe geofences in the set.

The application selects a subset of the geofences that satisfy a primaryconsideration, such as less than a threshold distance separation fromanother geofence in the set (block 504). The application determineswhether a geofence in the subset has a restriction, or is excluded, frommerging with another geofence in the subset (block 506). If an exclusionis defined for the geofence (“Yes” path of block 506), the geofence isexcluded from the subset (block 508). The application determines if moreexclusions are to be evaluated for other geofences in the subset (block510). If an exclusion is not defined or not applicable for the geofence(“No” path of block 506), the application proceeds to block 510.

If more exclusions are to be processed for another geofence in thesubset (“Yes” path of block 510), the application returns to block 506.If no more exclusions are to be processed for another geofence in thesubset (“Yes” path of block 510), the application selects a secondaryconsideration for the merging (block 512).

The application determines whether any geofences remaining in thesubset, and/or their payloads satisfy the secondary consideration (block514). If any geofences and their payloads satisfy the secondaryconsideration, the application merges those geofences (block 516). Forthe geofences that are merged, the application also combines theirpayloads (block 518). The application proceeds to block 520 thereafter.

If a geofence or its payload fail to satisfy the selected secondaryconsideration (“No” path of block 514), the application removes thatgeofence and its payload from any combination previously created wherethat geofence and its payload participate (block 517). The applicationthen proceeds to block 520.

The application determines whether more secondary considerations are tobe processed in a similar manner (block 520). If more secondaryconsiderations are to be processed (“Yes” path of block 520), theapplication returns to block 512 and selects another secondaryconsideration. if no more secondary considerations are to be processed(“No” path of block 520), the application sends the redefined definitionof the combined geofence and the combined payload to a consumerapplication in the mobile device (block 522). The application endsprocess 500 thereafter. Alternatively, the application continues tomonitor (not shown) the device's movements, and combines new ofdifferent geofences and payloads as the location of the device changesin the manner of process 500.

Thus, a computer implemented method, system or apparatus, and computerprogram product are provided in the illustrative embodiments for mergingpayloads in geofence-crowded venues and other related features,functions, or operations. Where an embodiment or a portion thereof isdescribed with respect to a type of device, the computer implementedmethod, system or apparatus, the computer program product, or a portionthereof, are adapted or configured for use with a suitable andcomparable manifestation of that type of device.

Where an embodiment is described as implemented in an application, thedelivery of the application in a Software as a Service (SaaS) model iscontemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. In a SaaSmodel, the capability of the application implementing an embodiment isprovided to a user by executing the application in a cloudinfrastructure. The user can access the application using a variety ofclient devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser(e.g., web-based e-mail), or other light-weight client-applications. Theuser does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructureincluding the network, servers, operating systems, or the storage of thecloud infrastructure. In some cases, the user may not even manage orcontrol the capabilities of the SaaS application. In some other cases,the SaaS implementation of the application may permit a possibleexception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: selecting, from a set ofgeofences operating in an area, a subset of geofences, each geofence inthe subset satisfying a primary consideration relative to at least oneother geofence in the subset; detecting that a mobile device is locatedin the area to receive payloads corresponding to each geofence in theset of geofences, wherein the selecting the subset of geofences isresponsive to the detecting; forming a combined geofence definition,responsive to a first payload of a first geofence and a second payloadof a second geofence satisfying a secondary consideration, by combininga first definition of the first geofence with a second definition of thesecond geofence; combining, using a processor and a memory at a dataprocessing system, the data processing system being distinct from themobile device traveling in the area, and responsive to the forming thecombined geofence definition, the first payload with the second payloadto form a combined payload; and transmitting, to the mobile device thecombined geofence definition and the combined payload.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: changing an order in which the firstpayload is combined with the second payload, the changing beingresponsive to a second secondary consideration.
 3. The method of claim1, further comprising: selecting, responsive to a social networkingconsideration, the second payload for combining with the first payload,wherein the selecting the second payload is responsive to a socialnetwork data indicating a previous use of the second payload by a memberof a social network of a user of the mobile device.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, further comprising: causing, responsive to the socialnetworking consideration, the second payload to be presented at a higherpriority than the first payload at the mobile device.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the secondary consideration restricts a type ofpayloads that can be combined with each other, and wherein the firstpayload and the second payload are of the type.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein the secondary consideration specifies that payloads to becombined have at least a threshold period left before expiry, whereinthe first payload has at least the threshold period left before thefirst payload expires, and wherein the second payload has at least thethreshold period left before the second payload expires.
 7. The methodof claim 1, wherein the secondary consideration specifies that geofencesto be combined have areas of sizes within a tolerance value of eachother, wherein the first geofence has a first area that is within thethreshold value of a second area of the second geofence.
 8. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: computing a projected travel path of themobile device through the area, wherein the secondary considerationspecifies that each geofence to be combined into the combined geofencebe on the projected travel path, and wherein the first geofence and thesecond geofence are each on the projected travel path.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: computing a location of a pause during apast travel of the mobile device through the area, wherein the secondaryconsideration specifies that each geofence to be combined into thecombined geofence be within a threshold distance from the location ofthe pause, and wherein the first geofence and the second geofence areeach within a threshold distance from the location of the pause.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: excluding from the subset a thirdgeofence responsive to a third payload of the third geofence failing tosatisfy a second secondary consideration, wherein the second secondaryconsideration applies to a combination of the first payload with thethird payload.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined geofencedefinition includes a first area of the first geofence, a second area ofthe second geofence, and a third area not covered by the first geofenceand the second geofence.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:excluding from the subset, a third geofence, wherein the third geofenceis restricted from merging with the first geofence.
 13. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the primary consideration comprises a proximitydistance, wherein proximity distance is a shortest distance between anypoint in a first geofence in the subset and any point in a secondgeofence in the subset.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the primaryconsideration comprises a proximity distance, wherein proximity distanceis a distance between a designated point in a first geofence in thesubset and a designated point in a second geofence in the subset.
 15. Acomputer usable program product comprising one or more computer-readablestorage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of theone or more storage devices, the stored program instructions comprising:program instructions to select, from a set of geofences operating in anarea, a subset of geofences, each geofence in the subset satisfying aprimary consideration relative to at least one other geofence in thesubset; program instructions to detect that a mobile device is locatedin the area to receive payloads corresponding to each geofence in theset of geofences, wherein the program instructions to select the subsetof geofences are responsive to the program instructions to detect;program instructions to form a combined geofence definition, responsiveto a first payload of a first geofence and a second payload of a secondgeofence satisfying a secondary consideration, by combining a firstdefinition of the first geofence with a second definition of the secondgeofence; program instructions to combine, using a processor and amemory at a data processing system, the data processing system beingdistinct from the mobile device traveling in the area, and responsive tothe forming the combined geofence definition, the first payload with thesecond payload to form a combined payload; and program instructions totransmit, to the mobile device the combined geofence definition and thecombined payload.
 16. The computer usable program product of claim 15,further comprising: program instructions to change an order in which thefirst payload is combined with the second payload, the changing beingresponsive to a second secondary consideration.
 17. The computer usableprogram product of claim 15, wherein the computer usable code is storedin a computer readable storage device in a data processing system, andwherein the computer usable code is transferred over a network from aremote data processing system.
 18. The computer usable program productof claim 15, wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computerreadable storage device in a server data processing system, and whereinthe computer usable code is downloaded over a network to a remote dataprocessing system for use in a computer readable storage deviceassociated with the remote data processing system.
 19. A computer systemcomprising one or more processors, one or more computer-readablememories, and one or more computer-readable storage devices, and programinstructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devicesfor execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at leastone of the one or more memories, the stored program instructionscomprising: program instructions to select, from a set of geofencesoperating in an area, a subset of geofences, each geofence in the subsetsatisfying a primary consideration relative to at least one othergeofence in the subset; program instructions to detect that a mobiledevice is located in the area to receive payloads corresponding to eachgeofence in the set of geofences, wherein the program instructions toselect the subset of geofences are responsive to the programinstructions to detect; program instructions to form a combined geofencedefinition, responsive to a first payload of a first geofence and asecond payload of a second geofence satisfying a secondaryconsideration, by combining a first definition of the first geofencewith a second definition of the second geofence; program instructions tocombine, responsive to the forming the combined geofence definition, thefirst payload with the second payload to form a combined payload; andprogram instructions to transmit, to the mobile device the combinedgeofence definition and the combined payload, the data processing systembeing distinct from the mobile device traveling in the area.